HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Baldwin’s Strong 2nd Half Sparks San Fernando, 87-70

Russell Baldwin, who missed last season because of academic ineligibility, scored 32 points and had 12 rebounds and five assists Wednesday to lift San Fernando High over Birmingham, 87-70, in a nonleague opener at San Fernando.

Baldwin, a 6-5 senior center, scored eight points in the third quarter as San Fernando extended its lead from six to 16 points early in the third quarter.

“He had trouble getting started,” San Fernando Coach Dick Crowell said. “(But) he played very inspired in the second half.”

Link Polk, a 5-10 point guard, had 20 points for Birmingham.

Gerald Harris added 13 and Lance Whitaker, a football player, had 12 in his first basketball appearance for San Fernando.

In other nonleague openers:

Sherman Oaks CES 77, Monroe 71--Jesse Wallace came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points, but it wasn’t enough as Monroe lost at home.

Wallace hit seven of 13 shots from the field, and teammate Kenyon Wright had 15 points.

Grant 69, El Camino Real 44--Rene Delahoya scored 22 points on eight-of-nine shooting and Keith Weinstein added 16 points as the Lancers rolled at Grant.

Setro Terzian scored 10 points for Grant, which outscored El Camino Real, 34-20, in the first half. Allen Chenen led the Conquistadores with 13 points.

Canoga Park 67, Belmont 59--Marcus Reed scored a game-high 20 points and had eight steals and Lindsay Dunbar added 15 points and 10 assists to lead Canoga Park in first-year Coach Jeff Davis’ debut at Belmont.

Canoga Park, which won only two games last year, held Belmont to six points in the third quarter to put the game away. Frank Harris added 12 points and Shawn Lewis pulled down 15 rebounds.

Taft 70, Reseda 59--The Toreadors scored 21 of the game’s first 23 points and Jason Deyoe scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked five shots at Taft.

GIRLS

Grant 44, Granada Hills 36--Karla Parade scored 21 points to pace Grant in a nonleague opener at Granada Hills.